Chapter 3The Billionaire Who Felt My Pain

My fingers trembled violently. I was about to bend down to grab the pills that hadn't gotten dirty yet.

But the shadow of her stiletto heel fell first, crushing the pills viciously.

The light yellow powder mixed with dirt, completely ruined beyond any use.

"Pick them up, why don't you? Why'd you stop?" Lindsay laughed until she was doubled over.

"Is it not dirty enough? How about you lick it, and I'll buy you ten bottles? Deal?"

I snapped my head up to look at her, my eyes so red they could bleed.

Ethan's face had turned black as ink. He raised his fist and punched one of the bodyguards blocking Lindsay.

Having followed Gideon for years, Ethan had professional certification in hand-to-hand combat.

Two hired street thugs were no match for him. He took them down in a few moves, leaving them groaning in pain on the ground.

The security guards behind him snapped to attention and rushed forward to pin down all of Lindsay's people.

Ethan ran up to me in three quick strides, took off his suit jacket and wrapped it around me, blocking all the prying eyes around us. His voice became as gentle as possible, afraid of triggering me:

"Miss Carter, it's okay now. I'll have someone get an expert appointment at the hospital right away to buy the exact same medication. Don't be afraid. I'm here."

I leaned against his arm, still trembling. My tears fell on his suit jacket, spreading into small damp spots.

I thought this farce was finally over.

But I didn't expect that when Lindsay saw her people being restrained, not only was she not afraid—she laughed even more crazily. The viciousness in her eyes sent chills down people's spines.

"Ethan Mitchell, you're quite the fighter, aren't you?"

"You think you can protect her? Let me tell you, even if God himself showed up today, he'd have to kneel and beg me!"

When Ethan heard her words, his expression darkened further. The killing intent in his voice practically overflowed:

"Lindsay Lin, don't court death. Mr. Ashford will never forgive you!"

"Never forgive me?" Lindsay scoffed. Her fingertip swiped across her phone screen twice, then she held it directly in front of my face. The bright screen was blinding. "I'd like to see who won't forgive whom!"

I instinctively looked up at her phone screen.

With just one glance, all the blood in my body froze.

On the screen was an abandoned old factory building, the floor covered in dust and puddles, not even a window in sight.

My grandma was lying on a hard board bed in the middle of the factory. Her withered hand still had an IV needle in it. The IV bag hung from a rusty iron stand beside her, swaying in the wind. You could even see blood backing up in the tube.

Two men with full-sleeve tattoos stood nearby, smoking cigarettes and playing games.

The camera shook and focused on Grandma's face.

Grandma seemed to hear something. She opened her cloudy eyes and turned her head with difficulty. She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse like sandpaper:

"Lydia... Lydia, where are you? Grandma's so cold..."

My mind went "BOOM"—all sounds instantly disappeared.

She was my only family in this world.

I grew up without parents. Grandma raised me by collecting scraps.

After her stroke last year, I worked myself to the bone so I could send her to the best nursing home in the city. I spent most of my salary every month hiring a one-on-one caregiver for her. I just wanted her to be comfortable and stay with me a few more years.

Lindsay actually took her from that warm nursing home and threw her in that kind of place.

"Look at that. So pitiful."

Lindsay's voice coiled around me like a venomous snake.

"I already bought off the nursing home caregiver. No one knows where your grandma is. Only I know where she is now."

"Get on your knees right now and cut up your face with a box cutter yourself, and I'll consider letting your grandma go."

"Otherwise, I'll call my people right now and have them disconnect her IV. When she dies, don't blame me."

My whole body shook like a leaf. My heart hurt like someone had ripped it out and crushed it in their hand.

Tears fell endlessly. Lindsay's triumphant laughter filled my ears.